Walt Wunderly’s
Napa Wine List
Revana
2019 ST. HELENA CABERNET SAUVIGNON
The quality of fruit coming from this Estate is truly remarkable.
After a powerhouse year like 2018, the 2019 vintage doesn’t skip a beat. This year has checked all the boxes, from vineyard to bottle.
Start to finish, this opulent, fruit forward Cabernet will make its
mark now and for years to come.
A mild spring with significant precipitation led to a long warm
growing season into the summer months. The 2019 season gave an above average yields; similar to the previous year. The characteristics of classic, ripe, Napa Valley Cabernet are representative of this iconic vintage.
Duckhorn
2016 DUCKHORN VINEYARDS HOWELL MOUNTAIN NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON The nose offers an explosion of dark mountain fruit with decadent aromas of raspberry-filled chocolates, black currant, mulberry and huckleberry jam, as well as more savory notes of cedar and spice. On the palate, firm mountain tannins underscore this wine’s opulence and ageability, framing the blackberry, fig and black currant flavors, with bright underlying acidity providing poise and finesse to the long, layered finish. 2017 DUCKHORN VINEYARDS NAPA VALLEY CABERNET Rector Creek Vineyard Dark, juicy and provocative, this wine displays aromas of blackberry, black plum and blueberry, with silky undercurrents of mocha and molasses. The dark berry notes are echoed on the palte, where they mingle with hints of dark chocolate, sweet tobacco leaf and violets. Framed by firm, but well-integrated tannins, this wine builds to a long resonant finish with lingering notes of cassis and violet.
Pirate
Pirate Treasure Red is a smooth, complex and drinkable red blend by Heidi Barrett.
Pirate Treasure Red is also known for its distinct packaging – it comes in a short 750ml bottle that resembles a rum bottle, with its treasure map label and gold doubloon on top of the foil.
2012 The Nth Degree Cabernet Sauvignon
Wente produces four wine collections – Estate Grown, Single Vineyard, Small Lot and the Nth Degree. Estate Grown – The Wente Estate Grown wines are produced from approximately 3,000 acres of sustainably farmed estate vineyards to. Each Wente Estate Grown wine is named after the unique growing conditions of the estate vineyards in which it is sourced. Small Lot – The Wente Small Lot wines are produced in a micro winery, with all of the work done. The wine is overseen in every step of the process. Thirty one-ton fermenters are used to vinify a small quantity of grapes, for quality and experimentation. The grapes are gently pressed and placed in small-batch fermenters. Traditional methods, such as wild yeast fermentation, and weekly batonnage (the stirring of the lees), are used. Single Vineyard – The Wente Single Vineyard wines are sourced exclusively from specific vineyard blocks named for the pioneers who relate to the history of Wente Vineyards’ winemaking tradition and premier estate vineyards. The Nth Degree- The Wente Nth Degree is the Wente premier collection of limited production wines.
The 2012 Nth Degree Cabernet Sauvignon Notes
Winemaker: Karl D. Wente
Vineyard: Prime Livermore Valley, Napa Valley and Arroyo Seco Estate vineyards. The vineyards were “ultra-farmed”; every vine receives at least fifteen passes by hand – to pruning, leaf pulling, removing shoots, and thinning clusters, in an effort to ensure that the grape clusters remaining at harvest are of the highest quality. The grapes were harvested in the early morning into half ton bins and handpicked, sorted, and crushed into small stainless steel fermenters.
Fermentaion: Fermentation took place in upright stainless steel tanks and pumped over twice daily.
Aging: The wine was aged for 22 months in French, Eastern European and neutral oak barrels. For the first 14 months, the individual components were aged separately. Then they were blended and rebarreled together to age the final eight months.
Tasting: Wente’s Nth Degree collection is unquestionably the finest wine Livermore has to offer, on a par with the upper tier of Napa wines. The 2012 Nth Degree Cabernet Sauvignon vintage offers delightful smooth flavors and tanninss characteristic of bordeax style California Cabernets. It delights with flavors of ripe black cherry, cassis, black tea, coffee and cocoa, and has a rich, well-balanced finish. Ready now, even better later.
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